Rivet feeding device



April 2, 1946. w. R. KovAcs RIVET FEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet `1 FiledSept 15 u 194 3 'ANI Mtl mm mm Rm wm l .1. N ER. V nnnnlinniiv i x ,M Iu 3M ATTORNEY v April Z, 1.946. w. R. KovAcs 2,397,872

RIVET FEEDING' DVICE l Filed sept. 15, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 2 ask 40 @EN39 a9 INVENTOR. W/L MM H. Kovacs 'BY W AT roR/vL-'Y Patented Apr. 2,1946 RIVET FEEDING DEVICE William R. Kovacs, Cleveland, Ohio, assignerto The Cleveland Pneumatic Tool Company,

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 15, 1943,Serial No. 502,482

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in devices for manuallyinserting rivets or the like into work openings, and more particularlyto a device for delivering rivets from one end thereof.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a rivetfeeding device embodying improved means for releasably holding aplurality of rivets in position to be individually discharged from thedelivery end of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rivet feeding deviceincluding a barrel adapted to contain a` plurality of axially disposedrivets and means on the delivery end of the barrel which permits thedischarge of the innermost rivet and at the same time will grip the nextadjacent rivet to preclude its premature discharge from the barrel.

vA further object of the invention is to provide an improved device ofthe above character in which resilient fingers are employed forretaining the rivets in the barrel and means engaging said fingers forholding them inrivet engaging position to preclude the discharge of theend rivet from the barrel until vsaid device is in the desired positionfor releasing a rivet.

A still further 4object of the inventionfis to provide an improveddevice of the character mentioned in which the barrel and a thrustmember or nose piece engageable with the Work are relatively movable forpermitting the resilient fingers to spread, and in which the thrustmember is of a form such that it is not likely to cause marring of thework.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoingreside in the specific construction and aggroupment of the elementspeculiar to this structure, as will become apparent from a more completeexamination of this specication.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a rivet placing deviceembodying the features of the presentv invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially online 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modiiied form ofthe invention.

Fig. Gis a perspective view on a larger scale showing in detail rivetgripping lingers employed in connection with the invention.

Fig. 7 is an end view showing the lingers forced inwardly into grippingposition by an encircling tubular member. y

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing the corresponding partsemployed in the Fig. 5 modification, and

Fig. 9 is an end view of the Fig. 8 construction with a confiningtubular member in flnger restraining position. Y

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, andparticularly Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive; which illustrate one embodiment ofthe invention, the improved rivet feeding or placing device isgenerally` designated by the reference numeral I 0 and includes a barrelII which forms a support or magazine adapted to contain a plurality ofrivets I2 or other articles to be fed.V The barrel I-I is open at bothends thereof and is fabricated with a longitudinal slot I3 in the wallthereof. A plunger I4 is adapted to be inserted Vthrough the open outerend I5 of the barrel for engagement with the outer end of a series ofrivets previously placed in the tube asl shown in Fig.. 4, said plungerbeing formed Vwith a lug I6 which projects through the slot I3 and ismovable therealong.l A tension spring I1 is connected to the lug I6 asindicated at I8 and constantly applies a pullingforce to the plunger I4,causing the latter to advance the rivets I2 valong the barrel I`I towardthe inner or delivery end IIthereof. j Y

Soldered or otherwise iixedly mounted on the inner or delivery. endV II'of the barrel II is a bracket I9, which includesa sleeve portion 2Dsurrounding or partially surrounding the barrel and a pair of spacedears B projecting substantially radially ofthe barrel. The ears B form asupport for an elongated substantially U-shaped cover 2|V which isadapted to-be releasably held in closed position adjacent the barrel IIby a spring clip 22 which is carried by the cover and engageable withthe barrel adjacent its outer end. The cover 2l' is pivotally connectedto the ears B by means of a transverse pin 23 which permits the cover tobe swung toward or away from the barrel II during the loading of thebarrel with rivets or the like. Between the ears B there is provided agrooved roller 24 which is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 23 andaround which extends-the tension spring Il, said tension springextending longitudinally within the cover 2| and having its outer endsuitably anchored thereto by means of a lug'or theflike 25.

A sleeve 25 is permanently secured to the inner or delivery end II' ofthe barrel IIl said sleeve being formed with a plurality of resilientlingers 21 adapted to be urged into clamping engage-k ment with theinnermost rivet supported within the barrel The inner or free ends 28 ofthe resilient iingers 21 are convexed and normally ex outwardly awayfrom the axis of the barrel and unless restrained would permituninterrupted discharge of the rivets from the barrel. The confining orrestraining means for the fingers comprises a tbular member 29whichsurrounds the sleeve 26 and fingers 21 and is axially movable relativetoy the barrel The outer endof the member 29 is formed with a lug 3|which is disposed within the slot |3 for preventing rota# tion of saidmember relative to .theb'arrel Thenormal position of the member 29 isshown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and it will `ber noted that theinnermost end ofsaid Ymember has bearing engagement with the iinger ends28 so as to urge said ends inwardly for clamping engagement with thehead of the innermost rivet v 3|). r'Viliiile the 'normal tendency ofthe spring lingers 21 is lt0 'eX outwardly, the tube `2S bringssuiiicient pressure to bear on the linger ends to c'au'se the latter to`rmly grip the innermost rivet head and thereby preclude its dischargefrom the barrel However, as will hereinafter appeanjthe barrel andsleeve v2t are moved longitudinally relative to the 'member 29 to freethe ends 28 from said member whereupon 'they eX- pan'd and fallow theinnermost rivet to be ejected. A' V`In addition ti the series of lingersA21, the sleeve 26 salso forinefd with a pair o'f diametricallyopposedresilient fingers 32 which are shorter than the prigersi. The iingeis 32lare adapted to ex- 'tend through oia'fnetiieaily opposed slots 33formed iii the vdelivery end 'of the barrel n and Yfunction'tm preventthe escape of the rivet next adjacent the innermost rivet being ejected,As sh'o'wn in Fig. 4 of the `drawin`g's,Y the innermost rivetw has justbeen reieased from Athe fingers l21 and' has entered the opening 34within the work 3,5 and simultaneously with the release of the iiyet,the fingere 32 are urged 'inwardly by the tnbul'armember 29 forengagement with the head ofrtiiejnext adjacent rivet 36. 'The fingers 32are simiiarin eonstruetion tothe engere 21 m that they' nfo'rinailyffiexjoutwardlyaway from the axis oi the barrel VV|'|. In Jor'derto 'urge theshort v1ing-erefz intojeiamping engagement with the head oi the 'rivet'36, the end ofthe tubu1ar member 29 is formed with diametricallyopposed downwardly extending lips 31Awhich are positioned directly abovethe fingers 82. When the tubular member 29 is inthe position shown inFig.A 2 of the drawings, jth'e lips -3| are out of .bearing engagementwith-the lingers '32, and said lingers are thereby free to flexoutwardly Y'away lfrom the rivets. As before indicated, at that ltimethe fingers 28 are urged into gripping engagement Ywith the head of theinnermost ri'vetm30. However, as ythe Abarrel m 'moved longitud-iii -iiyrelative te the jtiibuiar o'n shown in Fig. 4 o-'f the member/29 tothepo' I drawings, the "lips `81 l bearafgainst the fingers 3.2 to Atir-gesaid angers inwardiy :for gripping the li'e'ad o'f'thelnextfadjaeehtrivet `3'6. 'This action is f'sirnltaneou's with the`release of the innermost rivet 30, 'and it will be seen that -only yonerivet ata itilmf'e fis thereby permitted to T'be freed `from th' fdlve'yend Loffjthe itu-be.

`on the work surface.

rivet is being ejected and said spring functions to return the barreland bracket to normal position when the device is removed from the work35.

A pair of arms 39 are secured to andextend forwardly of the tubularmember 29 and are adapted to engage the surface of the work for holdingthe free ends of the resilient lingers 21 in spaced `relation to thework; Thus the resilient Vhgers are free 'to flex outwardly as the tubeis moved toward the work without scraping The arms 39 are formed withlaterally extending feet which engage the surface of the Work withoutmarring or otherwise damagingtne same. n

f It will loe-seen Vfrom the foregoing description that when the Abarrelhas been charged with aseries of rivets 2 and they are subjected tofeeding pressure by the plunger |4, the head of theinnermost rivet 30will be engaged by the inwardly pressed ends of the resilient'iingers21, and said rri've't will be held with the stem-thereof Varojectingfrom 'the tip of 'the device ready to be inserted into the opening :34of the work 35, as shown in Fig. 2. When inserting the stem of the rivet30 into the opening 34, the feet 40 will be brought into bearingengagement with vthe surface of the work 35; whereupon 'the barrel isshifted toward the workjby sliding movement withinthe 'tubular member29, moving the ends 28 ofthe iingers A2'1 out of engagement with the'tubular member 29 and'simultaneously causing4 the lips 43"! to depressvtl'ie'iingers 32. As 'the ends 2'8 are released from the tubular member29, the 'iingers 21 will flexv outwardly 'and the rivet 30'vin'11 beprojected or snapped 'into the work 'opening by 'the actionjo'f thespring VI1. Thereupon, the barrel H is released, and under the action ofthe urging those Ifingers inwardly. :In this form the Y .A "c'oil spring38 is interposed between the bra'ket sleeve l2f0faf-1d "the louter endof the tubular -Tmenber v12,59.- The bracket |9 'being xedly secured tothe barrel |i| vvillimove with said barrel agamstjiiie f resistance 'forthe spring s s, *white a is repeated all of the rivetshavefbeenexhaust'ed from the barrel and when it is desired to reload thebarrel with fan Aadditional supply of rivets, the plunger |f4 is removedthrough lthe open end I5 by stretching the spring |`f| .and afterloading", Vthe plungerfisagain positioned in abutting'relation with'the-header the end rivet.

The. 'form or the invention shown in Fig. 5 diners :from the previouslydescribed form by omitting the '.p'air fofwshort .lingers and vthe'elepressing lips formed on theftubularimember-for construction jof thebarrel |f|., `.plunger |'4 A'and spring-l1 is] the `lsame as thepreferred form. A sleeve |f2-6 uis lpermanently securedto the .inner ordelivery endY of the barrel-H l"and said :sleeve is formed with aplurality of resilient iingers`r|2 having `convexed ends :|28 adapted,tor beurged intol clamping engagement with -the innermost rivetlf.. Iheends |28 are-urged inwardly into rivet clamping engagement by thetubular mem- 'bei' |29 which is .mounted on the bar-rel H in ringersurrounding position and is slidable relative to said barrel. Byshifting the .barrel troward the work |35., the ends '|23' will be' freeto flex outwardly .'t'o release 'the innermostrivet '|30 into the'opening 134, As the device is moved away `from the Avvo'rl; |35., the'iingers .are urged inwardly by coi'ila't fw'ith the fmeniber |29 toclamp the nextradj'acent rivet |36. "VItwill :thus be `'seen that theYoi 'the two-forms is simi.,

lar insofar as restraining the innermost rivet is concerned butthat themodified form dispenses with the means for preventing escape of therivet next adjacent to the innermost rivet.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailedcharacter, in order to completely set forth the invention, it is to beunderstood that the specific terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining and it is to be further understood that variousrearrangements of parts and modications of structural detail may beresorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the inventionas herein claimed.

' I claim:

1. In a device for holding and delivering rivets or the like, a, barrelforming a magazine for a plurality of rivets, means for urging therivets toward the delivery end of the barrel, resilient ngers carried bythe barrel tending to flex outwardly, a member carried by but movableaxially upon the barrel normally urging said fingers inwardly forholding them in rivet engaging position, said member being adapted toabut against the work and to move relatively to the barrel in an axialdirection when the barrel is moved toward the Work in order to releasethe fingers from the control of said member.

2. In a device for holding and delivering rivets or the like, a barrelforming a magazine for a plurality of rivets, means for urging therivets toward the delivery end of the barrel, resilient ngers carried bythe barrel tending to ilex outwardly, a tubular member surrounding thebarrel and movable axially thereupon, said tubular member normallyconfining said flngers for'holding them in rivet engaging position, saidtubular fil member being adapted to abut the work and to move relativelyto the barrel in an axial direction when the barrel is moved toward theWork and thereupon to release the ngers and permit them to expand fordischarging a rivet.

3. In a device for holding and delivering rivets or the like, a barrelforming a magazine for a pluralityof rivets, means for urging therrivetstoward the delivery end of the barrel, two sets of fingers carried bythe barrel and spaced apart axially, one set for engagement With theendmost rivet and the other for engagement with the next adjacent rivet,means movable relatively to the barrel for abutting the Work when thebarrel is moved toward the Work, said means being adapted upon suchrelative movement to release the endmost rivet and grip the nextadjacent rivet.

4. In a device for holding and delivering rivets or the like, a barrelforming a magazine for a plurality of rivets, means for urging therivets toward the delivery end of the barrel, two sets of fingerscarried by the barrel and spaced apart axially, the fingers of both setstending to ilex outwardly, a tubular member surrounding the barrelmovable axially thereupon, said tubular member. normally coniining oneset of fingers to cause them to retain the end rivet while leaving theother set free to expand, said tubular member being adapted to abut thework and to move relatively to the barrel in an axial direction when thebarrel is moved toward the work and thereby to release the ngers holdingthe end rivet, said tubular member having means which is effective atthe same time for confining the other set of fingers to cause them togrip the next adjacent rivet.

WILLIAM R. KOVACS.`

